DOT Closes Loophole on Undocumented Truck Drivers
The Department of Transportation (DOT) announced on Wednesday that it has closed a significant loophole that previously allowed undocumented drivers, including immigrants without legal status, to operate commercial trucks. This decision followed several fatal accidents involving these drivers last year.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean P. Duffy stated, “For too long, America has permitted dangerous foreign drivers to misuse our truck licensing system and cause chaos on our roads. Today, this safety loophole ends.” Moving forward, unqualified foreign drivers will no longer have access to licenses for operating large trucks weighing up to 80,000 pounds.
Officials indicated that foreign nationals holding only a work permit will be ineligible for a commercial truck driving license. The Employment Authorization Document (EAD) does not provide details on prior traffic violations, accidents, or license suspensions from other countries.
The new regulations formalize a policy introduced by Mr. Duffy last September, which halted the issuance of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) to drivers who lack a verified driving record.
Recently, federal authorities intensified the enforcement of truck licensing rules after numerous deadly accidents were linked to undocumented drivers. Reports show that at least 30 people died in 17 crashes caused by these drivers in 2025. It was also noted that over 30 states have been found issuing CDLs to those deemed ineligible.
While U.S. states can investigate domestic drivers for past offenses such as DUIs and crash histories via a national database, they lack the means to access records concerning foreign nationals or illegal immigrants.
The reforms will bar state driver licensing agencies (SDLAs) from issuing CDLs to foreign drivers unless their driving records are verified, thus eliminating the reliance on EADs which, according to the DOT, have led states to issue many licenses unlawfully to unqualified individuals.
With the new regulations, applicants for a CDL must present an unexpired foreign passport along with the relevant Form I-94, which tracks noncitizens’ entry and exit from the U.S. Only those on temporary work visas, such as H-2B, H-1B, or E-2 visas, can qualify under this provision.
Furthermore, each state is required to verify the legal immigration status of all applicants using the Systematic Alien Eligibility Verification (SAVE) system.
The DOT emphasized that these changes are in direct response to a series of tragic accidents involving reckless driving by CDL holders without a legal domicile. Last summer, a driver making an illegal U-turn on the Florida Turnpike caused a crash that resulted in three fatalities. In another incident on a California highway, a driver who failed to stop caused an eight-vehicle collision, also claiming three lives. Another serious accident occurred when a truck collided with a train at a railroad crossing in Ontario, California, resulting in the driver’s death.
Duffy expressed that these reforms are dedicated to those harmed, including individuals like Dalila Coleman, who suffered injuries in an accident caused by an unqualified foreign truck driver.
“These truck drivers should never have been granted a commercial driver’s license, and this rule ensures such situations won’t arise again,” he asserted. The final rule is anticipated to take effect around March 15th, about a month from now.
Duffy commended the reform, which is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration focused on road safety. This includes reinforcing English language proficiency requirements for drivers.
He remarked, “Under President Trump’s leadership, we are prioritizing motorist safety.” Among other measures, a new order was signed in May to enhance English enforcement for commercial drivers, stipulating that those failing an English proficiency test would be dismissed.
